A study in the March issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that antibiotics and opioids are frequently prescribed during emergency department visits for dental conditions, further emphasizing the need for continued efforts to combat both opioid abuse and overuse of antibiotics.

The authors found that more than 50 percent of patients who visited the emergency department for a dental-related condition filled a prescription for antibiotics and approximately 40 percent filled a prescription for opioids, based on data from 2012-2014. Further, the authors found that more than 30 percent of patients filled prescriptions for both an antibiotic and an opioid as a result of their visit.

“Given previous findings that dental-related diagnoses are a common and potentially avoidable reason for [emergency department] visits, the prescribing of antibiotics and opioids for these conditions becomes even more concerning,” wrote the study authors.

In 2019, as part of its longstanding antibiotic stewardship efforts, the American Dental Association (ADA) released a new guideline indicating that, in most cases, antibiotics are not recommended for toothaches, which are a common dental-related reason to visit an emergency department. The guideline was developed by a multidisciplinary panel, including an emergency medicine physician nominated by the American College of Emergency Physicians.

The ADA has also held a longstanding commitment to raising awareness and taking action on the opioid public health crisis. Since 2011, the ADA has advocated to keep opioid pain relievers from harming dental patients and their families and worked to raise professional awareness on medication alternatives to opioids. A growing body of research supports ADA policy that dentists should consider prescribing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alone or in combination with acetaminophen over opioids as first-line therapy for acute pain management. In March 2018, the organization adopted policy that indicates a combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be just as effective as opioids for acute pain.

The ADA will continue to work together with physicians, pharmacies, policymakers and the public to address these issues that are critical to public health. For more information, visit MouthHealthy.org/opioids and MouthHealthy.org/antibiotics.

About the American Dental Association

The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing more than 163,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. The monthly The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) is the ADA's flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit ADA.org. For more information on oral health, including prevention, care and treatment of dental disease, visit the ADA’s consumer website MouthHealthy.org.

ToothShower is a complete oral care solution for the shower, created by a dental hygienist and made especially for people who don't like to floss

The award-winning, complete oral care solution ToothShower has launched the next generation of the product: ToothShower 2.0. ToothShower is the first water flossing suite for and powered by the shower without the need for batteries or electricity. ToothShower includes a suite of novel patented accessories for cleaning the teeth and gums and was invented to improve compliance with oral hygiene.

The American Dental Association recommends interdental cleaning devices, including water flossers, to clean between the teeth where toothbrush cleaning misses food and bacteria. To improve compliance and efficiency, Lisa Guenst, inventor and CEO of ToothShower, added two novel accessory tips for water flossing, offering a total of seven differing accessories. The dual-headed toothbrush hits both the front, back and chewing surfaces of the teeth. It irrigates while brushing, which allows the user to brush and flush plaque away.

In addition, the innovative gum massager works with seven jets of water to massage the gums while flushing. It's also designed to fit around braces. There is no other accessory gum massager like this on the market today. Standard with each appliance is the standard irrigating tip that flushes water between teeth, and because it is in the shower, there is no mess to clean up.

The new ToothShower 2.0 has improved features, such as an ergonomically designed open-air handle, magnetic-assisted cradle for the handle and easy-to-use comfort pressure, and diverter valves. It's available on Amazon and at ToothShower.com.

Guenst has won awards for her innovative business plan from Temple University Fox School of Business and the West Chester University's Dr. Edwin Cottrell Entrepreneurial Leadership Center in April 2017. Since then, ToothShower has sold thousands of appliances in the United States, as well as in 40 countries around the globe.

"I wanted to create something that my patients would use, which is how I came up with ToothShower. It's easy to use, stays in the shower, and eliminates the problem of space and mess associated with most water flossers on the market today," said Guenst.

ToothShower has supported several local and regional dental hygiene conferences throughout the nation and has displayed products at one of the largest dental hygiene conferences, "RDH Under One Roof," over the past two years. ToothShower has been proclaimed to be "hygenius" on several occasions during these trade shows. The product has also been receiving stellar reviews from patients, dental hygienists and dentists.

For more information about the product and to order, visit ToothShower.com and see the product on Amazon.

About ToothShower

ToothShower is a complete oral home care suite for the shower. It saves time and the mess caused by most water flossers. The company was founded and the appliance invented by dental hygienist Lisa Guenst. To learn more, visit ToothShower.com.

L&R’s UltraDose® WaveCheck Ultrasonic Test Monitor Strips designed to test the efficacy of your ultrasonic cleaner and solution.

L&R Ultrasonics, a global leader in Ultrasonic Cleaning Systems, Solutions and Accessories now introduces UltraDose WaveCheck Test Monitor strips, ready-to-use indicators designed to test the efficacy of your ultrasonic cleaner and solution; a critical step in infection prevention. WaveCheck confirms that instruments and apparatus can be properly and thoroughly cleaned. Ultrasonic Test Monitors are a quick, easy and cost-effective way to inspect and view the effectiveness of the cleaning process in ultrasonic cleaners.

The monitor strips contain a test soil that mimics the presence of blood and tissue found on dental instruments after use. During the test, the monitor strip is measuring multiple variables of the cleaning process including cavitation, time and solution. Full removal of the test soil from the test strip indicates an effective cleaning process. The maroon soil spots react to all critical parameters of ultrasonic cleaning. When used with the L&R WaveCheck holder, the visible spot represents exposed surfaces, while the covered spot represents difficult to clean areas.

For 90 years, L&R has been a global source for quality Ultrasonic Cleaning Systems, Solutions and Accessories. For more information about UltraDose WaveCheck Ultrasonic Test Monitor strips or any other L&R product, please visit our website at www.LRultrasonics.com, or contact us at 201-991-5330.

Formlabs, the designer and manufacturer of 3D printing systems, and BEGO, a specialist in the field of prosthodontics and implant dentistry, have announced a partnership that will allow Formlabs' dental customers to 3D print temporary and permanent crowns and bridges directly for patients with BEGO’s best-in-class dental materials. The ability to use completely digital dental workflows with 3D printed temporary restorations will enable a rapid, low cost, iterative process that improves patient care and case acceptance rates. BEGO and Formlabs showcased their new partnership at LMT Lab Day from February 21-22, where attendees could see and feel the materials. The partnership is a natural evolution of Formlabs’ recently announced Dental Business Unit and Form 3B, which is focused on ensuring all dental care providers can bring an exceptional level of care to their patients.

vhf is proud to announce that Zahn Dental, a division of Henry Schein, has added two vhf mills to their portfolio: S5 and R5, two five-axis milling and grinding machines with automatic blank changers. Zahn, one of the world’s leading dental suppliers now offers vhf’s flagship machines. Both, the S5 and R5, will be shown at the LMT Lab Day in Chicago in the Zahn Ballroom.

The CEO of vhf Inc., Dr. Nicolas Rohde, looks forward to the launch events at the Chicago trade shows: “We are extremely happy that the world premiere of the S5 will not only take place at vhf’s booth at the Lab Day, but also in the famous Zahn Ballroom showcasing to the distributor’s large audience.”

The S5 is the reliable workhorse. The five-axis dry milling machine features an 8-fold blank changer for maximum convenience and high output. The three integrated ionizers considerably reduce the cleaning effort, as static charge of acrylic chips such as PMMA, is neutralized. The optional wet grinding unit enables wet grinding glass ceramics or wet milling titanium.

The R5 is pure milling revolution. The highly automated five-axis milling and grinding machine for wet and dry operation features a patent-pending system for extremely easy and fast tool-free loading of up to ten discs or 60 blocks or abutments in the automatic material changer. The R5 can be operated overnight and over the weekend with its automatic cleaning and drying cycles.

vhf is pleased to announce that Patterson Dental is adding the highly automated milling and grinding machine R5 to their U.S. portfolio. The prestigious dental supply company will launch their broadened vhf offerings at their Chicago Midwinter Meeting booth.

The CEO of vhf Inc., Dr. Nicolas Rohde, is delighted about this extended cooperation: “We are sure that this expansion of the Patterson portfolio with such a powerful made-in-Germany dental milling machine will considerably increase their competitiveness, especially with respect to demanding general practitioners and specialists who want to benefit from inhouse milling – with same-day dentistry and beyond.”

The R5 is pure milling revolution. The highly automated five-axis milling and grinding machine for wet and dry machining features a patent-pending system for extremely easy and fast tool-free loading of up to ten discs or 60 blocks or abutments in the automatic material changer. Moreover, the R5 can be operated over night and over the weekend since it features automatic cleaning and drying cycles.

About vhf:

Founded in 1988, vhf is a leading manufacturer of CNC milling machines, milling tools and CAM software for the dental sector, industry and sign making. Headquartered in Ammerbuch, Germany, vhf employs more than 250 people and is constantly expanding. With its subsidiary vhf Inc. in the state of New York, it provides North American customers with inventory, sales, service, and support.

About Patterson Companies Inc.:

Patterson Companies Inc. connects dental and animal health customers in North America and the U.K. to the latest products, technologies, services and innovative business solutions that enable operational and professional success. The comprehensive portfolio, distribution network and supply chain is equaled only by dedicated, knowledgeable people who deliver unrivalled expertise and unmatched customer service and support.

Learn more: pattersoncompanies.com

Walmart Health’s First-Ever Head of Dentistry Brings Extensive Experience Building Strategic Partnerships and Bridging Patient Care with Business

Pearl, the company dedicated to providing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to the dental industry, today officially announced the addition of Dr. Roshan Parikh (Dr. Ro) to its advisory board. Parikh has been advising Pearl since August 2019, as an accomplished private-equity backed dental entrepreneur with more than a dozen years of experience as a practicing dentist. Pearl’s dental AI technology uses computer vision and machine learning to establish a standard of truth in dentistry, automate manual processes and alleviate dentist stress and burnout, with solutions for dental practices, dental labs and dental insurers.

Parikh joined Walmart Health as their first-ever Head of Dentistry, where he is developing Walmart’s strategic roadmap for their dental services. A private-equity backed healthcare provider and founder of the multi-site dental service organization (DSO), Great Lakes Dental Partners, Parikh is the founder of the dental consultancy, DSO Strategy, advising M&A DSO transactions with a combined value of $350M, senior advisor for the world-class dental management consulting and recruitment firm Fidler and Associates in Austin, Texas, board member of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) – College of Dentistry, as well as an editorial board member for the acclaimed dental publication, GroupDentistryNow.

Parikh is a proud graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Dentistry, with a BS in both Biology and Dentistry, as well as a Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS). He also earned an MBA with dual emphasis in finance and marketing from Loyola University Chicago. Parikh is a member of the American Dental Association (ADA), Illinois State Dental Society (ISDS) and the Chicago Dental Society (CDS).

“I always believe good medicine is good business, and by putting people before profit, success will follow. That means always putting the patient first, which is why I’m pleased to join Pearl’s advisory board,” said Dr. Rohan Parikh, head of dentistry at Walmart Health.

“I believe artificial intelligence is one of the keys to providing excellent dental care in dentistry in the coming decade. From greater efficiencies in dental practice management to more precise diagnosis and the elimination of insurance fraud, AI will refine nearly every aspect of the dental industry - and Pearl is clearly at the forefront of dental AI innovation.”

“Pearl is making incredible progress developing imaging-oriented AI solutions for the dental industry, introducing four products to multiple dental market segments in less than a year - and with more in the wings,” said Ophir Tanz, CEO, Pearl. “We are honored and excited to have Dr. Ro join Pearl’s advisory board. His counsel and expertise will be incredibly helpful during this period of accelerated growth.”

Pearl was incubated by Ophir Tanz while operating as the CEO of AI company GumGum, which has been applying computer vision and machine learning technologies to advertising for more than a decade. The son of a dentist, Tanz gathered dental x-rays for three years before spinning out Pearl along with co-founder Dr. Kyle Stanley, DDS - also the son of a dentist, in May 2019. Since launch, Pearl has introduced AI products for dental practices and DSOs (Second Opinion, Practice Intelligence), dental labs (Scan Clarity Score, Smart Margin) and dental insurers (Pearl Protect, Claims Approval).

About Pearl

Pearl is shaping the future of dentistry by delivering AI and computer vision solutions that advance efficiency, accuracy, transparency and patient care. Founded in 2019 by Ophir Tanz and Dr. Kyle Stanley, DDS, Pearl is backed by Craft Ventures and several strategic dental industry partners. For more information or to request a demonstration, please visit https://www.hellopearl.com.

Study Shows Plaque HD® Significantly Reduces Inflammation throughout the Body

For decades, researchers have suggested a link between oral health and inflammatory diseases affecting the entire body — in particular, heart attacks and strokes. Inflammation is intimately involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and is accurately measured by high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a sensitive marker for future risks of heart attacks and strokes.

Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, collaborated on a randomized trial titled, “Correlation between Oral Health and Systemic Inflammation” (COHESION), to further explore whether Plaque HD®, a plaque identifying toothpaste, reduces hs-CRP.

Results of the randomized pilot trial, published online ahead of print in the American Journal of Medicine, showed that Plaque HD® produced a statistically significant reduction in hs-CRP among those with elevations at baseline. Plaque HD® is the first toothpaste that identifies plaque so that it can be removed with directed brushing. In addition, the product’s proprietary formulation contains unique combinations and concentrations of cleaning agents that weaken the core of the plaque structure to help the subject visualize and more effectively remove the plaque.

In this trial, all randomized subjects were given the same brushing protocol and received a 30-day supply of toothpaste containing either Plaque HD® or an identical non-plaque identifying placebo toothpaste. To assess hs-CRP, levels were measured by Quest Diagnostics using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

“The current findings are similar to those from our previous pilot trial,” said Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., Dr.P.H., senior author, first Sir Richard Doll Professor, and senior academic advisor in FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine. “Whether this plaque-identifying toothpaste decreases heart attacks or strokes requires a large-scale randomized trial of sufficient size and duration. These results provide a stronger rationale to conduct such trials. If positive, the results of these trials would have significant potential clinical and public health implications.”

Based on these findings, Hennekens and colleagues at FAU and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health are drafting an investigator-initiated research grant proposal to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Their proposed randomized trial will test whether Plaque HD® reduces progression of atherosclerosis in the coronary and carotid arteries, for which systemic inflammation is an important precursor.

A report from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 47.2 percent of American adults aged 30 years and older have some form of periodontal disease, a pathological inflammatory condition of the gums and tissues surrounding the teeth. Periodontal disease increases with age affecting more than 70 percent of adults 65 years and older. Prior research has suggested that periodontal disease may be connected to variety of other diseases, including heart disease and stroke and other inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Inflammation throughout the body may be a crucial link between periodontal and other systemic diseases.

Further, two years ago, the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine ranked the original manuscript published in 1997 by Hennekens and colleagues on aspirin, inflammation and cardiovascular disease, as their most influential original report of the last 20 years. Those randomized data derived from the landmark Physician’s Health Study, in which Hennekens was the founding principal investigator, and suggested that hs-CRP predicted future heart attacks and strokes.

Co-authors of this randomized pilot trial are Amit Acharya, Ph.D., Marshfield Clinic Research Center and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health; Ingrid Glurich, Ph.D, Marshfield Clinic Research Center; and Scott Hetzel, M.S., KyungMann Kim, Ph.D., Matthew C. Tattersall, D.O., F.A.C.C.; and David L. DeMets, Ph.D., all with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

About the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine

FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine is one of approximately 152 accredited medical schools in the U.S. The college was launched in 2010, when the Florida Board of Governors made a landmark decision authorizing FAU to award the M.D. degree. After receiving approval from the Florida legislature and the governor, it became the 134th allopathic medical school in North America. With more than 70 full and part-time faculty and more than 1,300 affiliate faculty, the college matriculates 64 medical students each year and has been nationally recognized for its innovative curriculum. To further FAU’s commitment to increase much needed medical residency positions in Palm Beach County and to ensure that the region will continue to have an adequate and well-trained physician workforce, the FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Consortium for Graduate Medical Education (GME) was formed in fall 2011 with five leading hospitals in Palm Beach County. The Consortium currently has five Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited residencies including internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and neurology.

About Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. FAU’s world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU’s existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit fau.edu.

Aspen Dental Management, Inc. makes new technology and training available to doctors at Aspen Dental

More than 50 dentists who provide care in Aspen Dental-branded practices attend a two-day dental implant training program at ADMI’s Chicago-based Practice Support Center (PSC) in advance of the rollout of dental implant therapy as a treatment option. Located at 1040 W. Randolph in Chicago’s Fulton Market District, the PSC opened in 2018 and is the organization’s hub for learning and development and other support functions. (Photo: Business Wire)

Aspen Dental Management, Inc., (ADMI) announced a rigorous development program, supported by advanced three-dimensional imaging and surface scanning technologies, which is being offered to dentists and support staff in Aspen Dental branded practices. The offering, available to all Aspen Dental offices by the end of 2020, includes web-based, didactic, and surgical level courses. ADMI is the dental support organization (DSO) that cares for the dental professionals, who care for patients in more than 800 Aspen Dental offices located in 41 states.

In 2019, the Aspen Dental network saw double digit growth in implant treatment. The increase in patient need mirrors research that shows more than 150 million people in the US are missing at least one tooth (partial edentulism). Over one million of these cases go untreated each year, while over 37 million Americans suffer complete edentulism, a condition linked to serious health, social, and psychological issues.

Dentists who own and operate Aspen Dental practices view implant treatment as an attractive option for denture patients and those missing some teeth. Implants become a fixed, durable part of the mouth, helping prevent bone loss, maintain facial structure, promote gum health and support overall well-being. Patients report implants look, fit, feel, and function like natural teeth.

ADMI has appointed Dr. Sundeep Rawal as Senior Vice President, Implant Support Services. He will offer support for doctors on implant restoration, treatment planning, and case presentation. Dr. Rawal co-founded the Digital Dentistry Institute and was a private practice prosthodontist at Florida Prosthodontics, PA. He completed his dentistry training at the University of Florida College of Dentistry and his prosthodontics training at the University of California San Francisco.

The customized development content available to Aspen Dental practice teams will be offered as a three-tiered program that is supported by technology:

     • Education for doctors on consultation and case presentation and complementary training for managers, assistants, and lab techs on consultation, coding, and componentry to address implant restorations

     • Roll-out of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), a radiographic imaging method that allows accurate, three-dimensional (3D) imaging and supports cloud-based image sharing

     • Supporting coursework on 3D image interpretation, diagnosis, case selection and single implant and over-denture restorations; defined case work thresholds to ensure quality of care standards

Aspen Dental offices will also be offered CBCT 3D imaging technology to elevate the level of implant treatment. Today, 140 Aspen Dental offices have CBCT and nearly 200 will adopt CBCT in 2020. ADMI plans to procure the next generation Carestream Dental’s CBCT unit for Aspen Dental branded offices. The technology gives dentists an expanded field of view, offers high resolution and low dose modes, and metal artifact reduction. In addition to implants, the refreshed technology can help diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorder (TMJ) and sleep apnea, allowing care teams to help address a patient’s broader oral health issues.

“Aspen Dental patients will benefit from having many implant treatment options, because they can choose a better long-term solution to benefit their overall oral health,” said Dr. Rawal. “Every tooth is shaped and shaded to match real teeth, giving patients more confidence every time they smile.”